Documentary chronicles early years of AIDS epidemic

Union Board Films presented a special screening of “How to Survive a Plague” Wednesday night at the Whittenberger Auditorium.

The film is a documentary from 2012, and it is centered on AIDS.

The film’s director, David France, was present at the event. After the screening, he stayed around to answer questions from various audience members.

France is an investigative reporter as well as a non-fiction author, and he is known for focusing on LGBT topics in his novels.

He used more than 700 hours of footage to compile “How to Survive a Plague,” which was the first film he had ever directed.

The documentary chronicles the early years of the AIDS epidemic by following the efforts of AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power and Treatment Action Group.

The two groups are activist organizations that work to improve the lives of those individuals who have been diagnosed with AIDS.

The film was met with critical acclaim and positive reviews upon its release, which was in September 2012.

It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature as well as the Sundance Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize.

The film and France’s appearance was presented by Union Board, which was in partnership with Sexploration at IU, Positive Link, GLBT Student Support Services and the Department of Gender Studies.

­— Rachel Osman